Who Wants to Be an Extra on IRON MAN 3, MACHETE KILLS, GROWN UPS 2, THE WALKING DEAD and More?

Now that we’ve told you what’s filming where, instead of just watching the action from behind the police barricades, perhaps you’d like to be in front of the cameras.

If that sounds like something you might be interested in pursuing, let us point you in the right direction towards the people who are hiring this key element to any movie. They’re referred to in different ways: background artists, atmosphere and the most common sobriquet—extras. Pretty much every film needs them, and some more than others. If Iron Man is saving the population of entire cities, they can’t all be in the other room. Audiences need to see hundreds of people running and screaming in the midst of the controlled chaos. When Jackie Robinson makes history by taking the field, it would be a pretty hollow effort if no one is in the stands to cheer him on. You get the idea. So are you ready for your close-up? Hit the jump for more on Iron Man 3, Machete Kills, CBGB, Grown Ups 2, The Smurfs 2, The Walking Dead, and more.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor Collider.com are affiliated with any of these productions or casting agencies. The requirements for every production are both specific and diverse.

In New York and Los Angeles, most background work is found through agencies for which one pays a subscription fee. Their information is then placed in a database of available talent, which is made available to the various casting people for each individual project. As filming becomes prevalent in other cities like New Orleans and Atlanta, more and more of these agencies are popping up. Some offer free registration, so what’s the harm, right? Should you pay? That’s up to you, but just be aware that no matter how much or how little you pay, there are no guarantees they will get you in front of the cameras.

To get you started, here’s a sampling of productions currently seeking extras. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll keep you updated with new opportunities as they arise.

Iron Man 3/Caged Heat: (North Carolina) Caged Heat is the working title under which they began the Iron Man production. They’ve already held open casting calls for background, but they still need more. You can find out exactly what types they’re looking for by following them on Facebook:

They also post instructions on how to submit your photos and information.

In addition, this page features opportunities for other projects utilizing this casting director’s services. Currently, there are postings for extras needed for the second season of the Showtime series Homeland, which is also shooting in North Carolina.

CBGB: (Savannah, GA.) Directed by Randall Miller (Bottle Shock), Alan Rickman stars as Hilly Kristal, the man who opened one of New York City’s most iconic music clubs. An open casting call was held in Savannah on Tuesday, June 12th, but you can still submit yourself. Go to the following page for full details:

The Smurfs 2: (Montreal, Quebec) Extras casting is being handled by www.montrealextras.com. They charge $40 per year to be a part of their service, but they do have a number of additional projects coming up in the near future.

The Walking Dead: (Atlanta, GA.) The third season of AMC’s smash series is in front of the cameras, and www.extrascastingatlanta is the place to go to have the time of your un-life. There doesn’t seem to be a fee involved to register (and please correct me if I’m wrong!), so it never hurts to be in the database for this, or future projects.

Is that all there is? Hardly. If there’s a production in or around your town, keep your eyes and ears open. Check the newspapers, listen to the radio and watch the local news. You might also log on to your state/city’s film office website, which will tell you what’s scheduled to come to town. When a film is actively looking for extras, that’s where they’ll go first.

So if you have the time, the patience, and live in the right location, let us know where to look for you when the movie comes out!

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